Well folks, Thanksgiving is almost upon us, so it is time to trot out some wine recommendations for the holiday.

Depending on how you look at it, Thanksgiving can either present a near impossible wine pairing challenge – or it can present a wine pairing opportunity. In terms of the challenge, the diversity of food at the table and the assortment of friends and family feasting mean that it’s almost impossible to pick one wine that both goes with all dishes and will please everyone at the table. My solution? Don’t even try.
This leads us to the wine pairing opportunity of Thanksgiving. In my opinion, the best way to approach the holiday is to have an abundance of wine on hand which should both provide something for everybody while allowing people to experiment with different pairings and find out what works best. It also livens up the day’s discussion, in case any livening up is needed!

I recommend having a wide assortment of wines, from sparkling to whites, rosés, and reds. My only rule for Thanksgiving wines is this - don’t break the bank. It’s a busy day and the wine is flowing freely. And there’s nothing worse than watching than watching your least favorite uncle pour himself a half bottle of your most coveted wine and throw it back in three seconds flat.

Sparkling wines provide the most breadth in terms of pairing and can work as an aperitif and all the way through to dessert. Treveri Cellars offers a tremendously broad assortment of sparkling wines all of which have a place at the Thanksgiving table. Domaine Ste. Michelle also offers tremendous quality for the price.

Dry rosés can also work well for Thanksgiving – steer clear of the clear of the sweet stuff as its bound to make your cranberry relish taste sour and won’t have the acid complement the other dishes at the table. Here, you can’t ask for more than the Maison Bleue La Famille Rose of Mourvedre 2011 ($20). It’s a simply marvelous wine, and isn’t Thanksgiving all about family? In terms of value, it's hard to match the Charles & Charles Rose Columbia Valley 2011 ($11). Read more rosé recommendations here.

In terms of red wines, I recommend leaving the big, bold trophy wines for after dinner. The oak and tannins on these wines will obliterate the turkey you’ve been slaving over. Instead, go with lighter bodied reds like Pinot Noir or Grenache and associated blends.

No matter what you choose this Thanksgiving, remember that the holiday is, most of all, a time to be... thankful – for family, friends, and life’s many pleasures, including great wines. Happy holidays!